My Island Home in Abaco, The Bahamas
June 15th, 2009
My home in the Northern Bahamas chain of islands known as The Abacos, boasts the naturally protected waters of The Sea of Abaco, the deep royal blue of the Atlantic Ocean and dozens of offshore cays covering over 130 square miles of crystalline turquoise waters.. Situated just 180 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida, the Abacos are a haven to yachtsmen, nature lovers, divers and fishing enthusiasts. Referred to as the “Sailing Capital of the World”, Abaco features excellent, fully-serviced marinas, dive shops, fishing guides and boats for hire.
Boating is, in part, the life blood of Abaconians, as the local Bahamian residents are known. Most own at least one vessel and use their boats as daily transportation to and from the various cays, much as other world citizens use their automobiles. On any given weekend you will find Abaconians gathering on secluded island beaches, accessed only by boat, celebrating the bounty of the sea and a lifestyle compared to none. Joining the “local” folk in similar scenes, are our second home owners, some who also use their boats as their sole method of transport. And, of course, we have our visitors who are drawn to Abaco by our spectacular boating experience.
For our visitors there are over a dozen excellent boat rental agencies to choose from. These agencies offer boats of all sizes, from 18’ Whalers to 26’ Paramounts and Scorpions. In addition, there are sailboat charter companies, including The Moorings, which has bases of operation all over the world.
Whether renting a run about or chartering a 40 foot catamaran, you can spend seemingly endless days on the water, always in sight of land, visiting our quaint settlements, sunning on secluded beaches, or snorkeling in the Pelican Land & Sea Park, one of the world’s loveliest small reefs. The list of delights of cruising our waters is endless!
Properties boasting water frontage, some with docks, are in high demand and can be found reasonably priced starting in the upper $300’s. When our visitors consider the laid back life style of Abaco and our stunning natural environment, purchasing a vacation home is quite frequently the next logical step. With so many islands in the Abaco chain to choose from, searching for the ideal island getaway is an adventure for both the Realtor® and buyer. Each island, or “cay” as they are known, has its own character and touring these islands with us is always an outing to be remembered!
Come, let me Guideyouhome2thebahamas and experience tropical living as you have always dreamt it should be.
Contact me at mroberts@bahamasrealty.bs and/or take a look at our properties at www.bahamasrealty.bs.
Posted by:
Molly Roberts
Bahamian Citizens Now Travel Freely to Schengen Countries
June 9th, 2009
I believe that I am safe in saying that Bahamian citizens may be the most traveled, per capita, of any country in the world. This is partly due to our small population and the fact that the Bahamas boasts the 33rd highest per capita income in the world and the 
highest in the Caribbean region at $27,394. By comparison this is just under the per capita income of South Korea and above New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. The other contributing factor is the convenient location of the Bahamian Islands laying just 50 miles off the East coast of Florida. Bahamians think nothing of taking day trips and long weekends to Florida to shop and with direct connections to many East Coast cities including New York and direct flights to London, it is quite common to run into Bahamians on 5th Avenue or Trafalgar Square. Believe it or not I have, on many occasions, run into Bahamians that I know in New York, San Francisco and London, but also in out of the way places such as a native market in Delhi, India, the seaside town of Dinard in Brittany, France, on the Charles Bridge connecting to the old town in Prague, Czech Republic and would you believe in a very small airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia. As you can see I travel quite a bit myself.
Unlike citizens of many countries, Bahamians have needed a travel visa to go just about anywhere, except Great Britain and some of, but not all, Commonwealth countries. This has been a tremendous inconvenience. There is not only the expense 
of applying for a visa that may only entitle the holder to make a single trip, but also, many times having to appear personally at the nearest Embassy which could be in Florida, New York or Washington, DC.
Fortunately, this has now changed. Effective from May of this year Bahamian citizens no longer are required to carry a visa in their passports when traveling to any of the 24 Schengen countries which include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Wow. I am so excited about this that I just want to jump on the next plane and fly somewhere. Who knows I may someday run into you in Rome, Paris or on Safari in South Africa.
For properties closer to home here in The Bahamas, but no less exotic, give me a call. Visit our web site at BahamasRealty.bs and/or contact me at lroberts@bahamasrealty.bs and let me “Guide You Home 2” properties in The Bahamas.
Posted By: 
Larry Roberts
The Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but it was not until 1995 that persons who were in the business of selling, leasing or appraising real estate were required to have a real estate license. Members of BREA, from its inception, were required to abide by a strict code of ethics, maintain a separate escrow account and meet set academic standards, but you did not need to be a member of BREA to hang up a shingle and declare yourself a real estate agent in The Bahamas. This of course all changed with the Real Estate Broker’s and Salesman’s Act 1995.
It was not until February 2008 that the Bahamas Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was established. Prior to 2008 the majority of listings were “Open Listings.” In other words property owners would list their properties for sale with more than one agent. This many times resulted in a great deal of confusion with properties listed at different prices and owners having to deal with multiple agents. Without the security of a signed “Exclusive Listing” agents were reluctant to spend much time or money marketing these properties. The introduction of the Bahamas MLS and the requirement that all listings submitted to the MLS must be listed exclusively with one agent has been a win-win for everyone. Property owners now need only deal with an agent that they know and trust and the listing agents have the security of being able to actively and effectively market the property without being concerned that the property will be sold without their direct involvement. The added benefit is that we now have a database from which agents can easily prepare comparative market analysis reports which were not possible before the MLS.
The Bahamas MLS is proving to be a great success with over 130 members and more than 900 properties.
Visit our web site at BahamasRealty.bs and/or contact me at lroberts@bahamasreslty.bs and let me “Guide You Home 2” properties in The Bahamas.
Posted By: Larry Roberts
“Bahamas Realty, Now,” the Bahamas’ own house and garden TV show, is now shooting its 21st monthly episode and is now featured in podcasts on the internet! The show brings a wide range of properties to life and mixes in tips on tropical gardening, Bahamian lifestyle and real estate trends.
My greatest compliment is that lots of local fans think our local show IS on HGTV. It IS on six times monthly on Bahamian ZNS Cable Chanel 11 and JCN Cable Chanel 14 in the Bahamas and several other Caribbean countries. New episodes premier at 8:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month on ZNS. Now, the properties featured are even being seen as podcasts on our award-winning Bahamas Realty website (it’s better than a virtual tour). Click here to view some of the podcasts. Here are some of the featured properties:
It all began after I appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters International Episode #107, “Bahamas Dream Home,” (which is still running years later!). Friends started saying, “You should do your own show.” Eventually I did! Our third show featured the 
current “After” for the now unrecognizable house featured on HGTV.
Ours started as a 15 minute show with two featured properties. Now it is 30 minutes with four or more properties, all exclusive listings with Bahamas Realty Ltd., plus lots of tips such as the Gardening Guru’s “Tie One On,” (How to set Orchids free on trees); and “Green Tips” such as the many cleaning jobs you can do with vinegar and/or baking soda; or how to curtain French doors without blocking the breeze or the ocean view. Many of the properties featured have sold. People keep calling in tips.
Now, I try to be sure I’m presentable at all times. People come racing across parking lots to offer me listings or suggestions, saying “Hi, you’re Sara Parker for Bahamas Realty, Now!” Ah, the power of television. If you’re in the Bahamas looking for 
property, or cleaning or gardening tips, check out our schedule, printed on the back page of the Real Estate Section of the “Nassau Tribune” each Monday, or check out the podcasts on our website, currently featuring only properties.
One thing being on TV monthly teaches you is new respect for those who appear weekly or, heaven forbid, daily! Fortunately, I am a University of Missouri qualified journalist, home economist, and a real estate professional. “Bahamas Realty, Now” brings all that training and experience into use…and on view.
Posted By: 
Sara Parker
